sha
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Gita 2.64rAga-dveSa-vimuktais tu, viSayAn indriyaiz caran
Atma-vazyair vidheyAtmA, prasAdam adhigacchati
"The self-controlled man, by percieving objects with the organs <big>that are free from attraction and repulsion</big> and are under his own control, attains serenity, purity of mind, fitness for realizing the Supreme Self."
vihAya kAmAn yaH sarvAn
pumAMzcarati niHspRhaH
nirmamo nirahaGkAraH sa
zAMtim adhigacchati
Gita 2.71
"One whose mind is not attached to any material object and<big> freed from all desires and without the feeling of 'I' and 'mine' alone</big> deserves to attain Supreme Peace."
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B.Gita 2.55 Translation:
The Blessed Lord said:
"O Partha, when one fully renounces all the desires belonging to the mind and remains contented in the <big>Self alone</big> through the self, then he is called a man of steady Wisdom."
(Gudaartha Dipika of Sri Madhusudana Sarasvati)
There is a Sruti saying,
"When all desires clinging to one's heart fall off; then a mortal becomes immortal and attains Brahman here."
Kathopanishad 2.3.14
sa yo ha vai tat paramaM brahma veda
brahmaiva bhavati nAsyA brahma vitkule bhavati,
tarati zokaM tarati pApmAnaM
guhAgranthibhyo vimukto 'mRto bhavati
(Mundaka Upanishad 3.2.9)
'Anyone who realizes that Supreme Brahman becomes Brahman indeed.
Anyone who does not realize Brahman does not exist in his spiritual Line.
He overcomes grief, and raises above aberrations ; and becoming freed from the deep knots of the heart (created by Maya), he attains<big> immortality.</big>'
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"Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings."
Psalm 17:8
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http://www.truthout.org/docs_02/07.21B.dean.scandals.htm#
Predicting Presidential Scandals:
Looking at Bush's New Vulnerability
By John W. Dean
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<center>Subhashita - Wise Sayings
kAkaH Ahkwayate kAkAn yAcako natu yAcakAn
kAkaha yAcakore madhye varam kAko na yAcakAn
<font color="blue">When a crow finds food it calls for the other crows to join in.
But when a beggar gets food he will remain silent till he finishes off his food.
So if you want to choose between the life of a crow or a beggar,
you are better off being a crow than a beggar</font>
satyam mAtA pitA jnAnam
dharmo bhrAta dayA sakhA
zAnti patni kSamA putra
SaDaite mama bAndhavAH
<font color="red">Truth as one's mother,
knowledge as one's father,
righteousness as one's brother,
kindness as one's friend,
peace as one's wife,
forgiveness as one's son,
these six are considered as
one's closest relatives.</font>
paropakArArtham phalanti vRkSaH
paropakArArtham vahanti nadyaH
paropakArArtham dugdhanti gAvaH
paropakArArtham idam zarIram
<font color="blue">For others' benefit, the trees do bear fruits.
For the welfare of others, the rivers keep on flowing.
For the nourishment of others, cows pour out their milk.
So also, this human body is meant for the service of others.</font>
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Originally posted by Katwoman973:
I attended my first service at a Hindu Temple today, and felt COMPLETELY out of place. I was praying that I didn't do something disrespectful out of ignorance of "custom". Does anyone have suggestions for a good book that I can pick up that gives the details on different services, what they are for, and how one should act (or what one should do) during a service? I enjoyed the experience, and the people were exteremely nice, but I'd like to be better prepared next time I go so I can be more fully a part of the services.
Please get more information from these websites and book.
HINDUISM, THE WORLD'S OLDEST RELIGION
A SIMPLE INTRODUCTION TO A COMPLEX RELIGION
http://www.geocities.com/athens/forum/9410/hindu1.html
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1275.1
99 Names of Allah
1. Allah
The One Who has the Godhood, which is the power to create the
entities.
2. Ar-Rahman
The One Who has an abundance of mercy for the believers and the
blasphemers in this world and exclusively for the believers in the
Hereafter.
3. Ar-Rahim
The One Who has an abundance of mercy for the believers.
4. Al-Malik
The One with absolute Dominion, and the One Whose Dominion is clear
of imperfection.
5. Al-Quddus
The One Who is pure from any imperfection and clear of children and
adversaries.
6. As-Salam
The One Who is clear of every imperfection.
7. Al-Mu'min
The One Who witnessed for Himself that no one is God but Him; and Who
witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief
that no one is God but Him.
8. Al-Muhaymin
The One Who witnesses the saying and deeds of His creatures.
9. Al-^Aziz
The Defeater Who is not defeated.
10. Al-Jabbar
The One for Whom nothing happens in His dominion except what He
willed.
11. Al-Mutakabbir
The One Who is clear of the attributes of the creatures and of
resembling them.
12. Al- Khaliq
The One Who brings everything from non-existence to existence.
13. Al-Bari'
The Creator Who has the Power to turn the entities from one state to
another.
14. Al-Musawwir
The One Who forms His creatures in different pictures.
15. Al-Ghaffar
The One Who forgives the sins of His slaves time and time again.
16. Al-Qahhar
The Subduer Who has the perfect Power and is not powerless over
anything.
17. Al-Wahhab
The One Who is Generous in giving plenty without any return.
18. Ar-Razzaq
The One Who makes the Sustenance reach His slaves. Sustenance is
everything that benefits, whether halal or haram.
19. Al-Fattah
The One Who opens for His slaves the closed worldly and religious
matters.
20. Al-^Alim
The Knowledgeable; the One for Whom nothing is hidden from His
Knowledge.
21-22. Al-Qabid, Al-Basit
The One Who constricts the sustenance by His Wisdom and expands and
widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.
23-24. Al-Khafid, Ar-Rafi^
The One Who lowers whomever He willed by His Destruction and raises
whomever He willed by His Endowment.
25-26. Al-Mu^izz, Al-Mudhill
The One Who gives esteem to whomever He willed; hence there is no one
to degrade him. The One Who degrades whomever He willed; hence there
is no one to give him esteem.
27. As-Sami^
The One Who Hears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing
without an ear, instrument, or organ.
28. Al-Basir
The One Who Sees all things that are seen by His eternal Sight
without a pupil or any other instrument.
29. Al-Hakam
He is the Ruler, and His judgment is His Word.
30. Al-^Adl
The One Who is entitled to do what He does.
31. Al-Latif
The One Who is kind to His slaves and endows upon them.
32. Al-Khabir
The One Who knows the truth of things.
33. Al-Halim
The One Who delays the punishment for those who deserve it and then
He might forgive them.
34. Al-^Adhim
The One deserving the attributes of Exaltment, Glory, Extolement, and
Purity from all imperfection.
35. Al-Ghafur
The One Who forgives a lot.
36. Ash-Shakur
The One Who gives ample reward for a little obedience.
37. Al-^Aliyy
The One Who is clear of the attributes of the creatures.
38. Al-Kabir
The One Who is greater in status than everything.
39. Al-Hafidh
The One Who protects whatever and whomever He willed to protect.
40. Al-Muqit
The One Who has the Power.
41. Al-Hasib
The One Who gives the satisfaction.
42. Al-Jalil
The One Who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.
43. Al-Karim
The One Who is clear of abjectness.
44. Ar-Raqib
The One from Whom nothing is absent. Hence its meaning is related to
the attribute of Knowledge.
45. Al-Mujib
The One Who answers the one in need if he asks Him and rescues the
yearner if he calls upon Him.
46. Al-Wasi^
The Knowledgeable.
47. Al-Hakim
The One Who is correct in His doings.
48. Al-Wadud
The One Who loves His believing slaves and His believing slaves love
Him. His love to His slaves is His Will to be merciful to them and
praise them: Hence its meaning is related to the attributes of the
Will and Kalam (His attribute with which He orders and forbids and
with which He spoke to Muhammad and Musa. It is not a sound, nor a
language, nor a letter.)
49. Al-Majid
The One Who is with perfect Power, High Status, Compassion,
Generosity, and Kindness.
50. Al-Ba^ith
The One Who resurrects His slaves after death for reward and/or
punishment.
51. Ash-Shahid
The One from Whom nothing is absent.
52. Al-Haqq
The One Who truly exists, i.e., the One Whose Existence is confirmed.
53. Al-Wakil
The One Who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon.
54. Al-Qawiyy
The One with the complete Power.
55. Al-Matin
The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted, and Who does not
get tired.
56. Al-Waliyy
The Supporter.
57. Al-Hamid
The praised One Who deserves to be praised.
58. Al-Muhsi
The One Who knows the count of things.
59. Al-Mubdi'
The One Who started the human being, that is, He created him.
60. Al-Mu^id
The One Who brings back the creatures after death.
61. Al-Muhyi
The One Who took out a living human from seminal fluid that does not
have a soul. He quickens the dead by giving the souls back to the
decayed bodies on the Resurrection Day and He makes the hearts alive
by the light of knowledge.
62. Al-Mumit
The One Who renders the living dead.
63. Al-Hayy
The One Who is attributed with a life that is unlike our life and is
not that of a combination of soul, flesh, and blood.
64. Al-Qayyum
The One Who remains and does not end.
65. Al-Wajid
The Rich Who is never poor. AlWajd is Richness.
66. Al-Majid
The One Who is Majid.
67. Al-Wahid
The One without a partner.
68. As-Samad
The Master Who is relied upon in matters and is resorted to in one's
needs.
69. Al-Qadir
The One Who is attributed with Power.
70. Al-Muqtadir
The One with the perfect Power from Whom nothing is withheld.
71-72. Al-Muqaddim, Al-Mu'akhkhir
The One Who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead
whatever He wills and delays whatever He wills.
73. Al-'Awwal
The One whose Existence is without a beginning.
74. Al-'Akhir
The One whose Existence is without an end.
75-76. Adh-Dhahir, Al-Batin
The One above Whom nothing exists and underneath Whom nothing exists;
hence He exists without a place. His Existence is obvious by proofs.
He is clear of the delusions of bodily attributes.
77. Al-Wali
The One Who owns things and manages them.
78. Al-Muta^ali
The One Who is clear of the attributes of the creation.
79. Al-Barr
The One Who is kind to His creatures, Who covered them with His
sustenance and specified whomever He willed among them by His
support, protection, and special mercy.
80. At-Tawwab
The One Who grants repentance to whomever He willed among His
creatures and accepts his repentance.
81. Al-Muntaqim
The One Who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them
for their sins. It may mean the One Who destroys them.
82. Al-^Afuww
The One with wide forgiveness.
83. Ar-Ra'uf
The One with extreme Mercy. The Mercy of Allah is His Will to endow
upon whomever He willed among His creatures.
84. Malikul-Mulk
The One Who controls the dominion and gives dominion to whomever He
willed.
85. Dhul-Jalal Wal-'Ikram
The One Who deserves to be Exalted and not denied.
86. Al-Muqsit
The One Who is Just in His judgment.
87. Al-Jami^
The One Who gathers the creatures on a day there is no doubt about,
that is, the Day of Judgment.
88. Al-Ghaniyy
The One Who does not need the creation.
89. Al-Mughni
The One Who satisfies the necessities of the creatures.
90. Al-Mani^
The Supporter Who protects and gives victory to His pious believers.
91-92. Ad -Darr, An-Nafi^
The One Who makes harm reach to whomever He willed and benefit to
whomever He willed.
93. An-Nur
The One Who guides.
94. Al-Hadi
The One with Whose Guidance His believers were guided, and with Whose
Guidance the living beings have been guided to what is beneficial for
them and protected from what is harmful to them.
95. Al-Badi^
The One Who created the creation and formed it without any preceding
example.
96. Al-Baqi
The One for Whom the state of non-existence is impossible.
97. Al-Warith
The One Whose Existence remains.
98. Ar-Rashid
The One Who guides.
99. As-Sabur
The One Who does not quickly punish the sinners.
and Allah knows best.
Source -
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Originally posted by karthik_v:
Or can someone argue that the shrutis are amenable to multiple interpretations and that one can claim that both both advaita and Vaishnavism are both vedic traditions?
<font color="red">'jnAna yajnena cA 'pyanye yajanto mAm upAsate,
yekatvena pRthaktvena bahudhA vizvato mukham'</font>
(Gita 9.15)
'Yet others sacrifice with the Yagna of Knowledge and worship Me in various ways as the One, as the Distinct and as the All-faced.'
Worshipping Lord as the One, Undivided Pure Consciousness is the 'Advaita' or Non-Dualism.
Adoring the Almighty as the Distinct is the way of Dvaita or Dualism.
He is held as Distint from the 'Jagat' and the 'Jivatma' - the universe and the beings, both these categories dependent on Him.
Invoking 'Iswara' Lord as the All-Faced is the way of Visishtadvaita or Qualified Non-Dualism.
The universe and the beings in it are all the insentient and sentient aspects of the Body of the Lord.
It is for this reason He is called the All-Faced.
In whatever way the Lord is worshipped, it is acceptable to Him.
These several ways of understanding the Lord by the devotees are ALL their respective 'Jnana-Yajnas' or Sacrifices of Knowledge.
-Swami Chidbhavananda
<font color="blue">"Whatever be your concept of God, be it with Form or Formless, hold fast to it and ardently worship Him.
<big>But be not conceited that your concept alone of Him is the finale.</big>
In the course of your Sadhana you will come to KNOW by His Grace that His Attributes and Forms are Inexhaustible.</big></font>
-Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
<center>
</center> -
SECRECY AND PUBLICITY
THE Buddha said: "Three things, O disciples, are characterized by secrecy: love affairs, priestly wisdom, and all aberrations from the path of truth. Women who are in love, O disciples seek secrecy and shun publicity; priests who claim to be in possession of special revelation, O disciples, seek secrecy and shun publicity; all those who stray from the path of truth, O disciples, seek secrecy and shun publicity.
"Three things, O disciples, shine before the world and cannot be hidden. What are the three? The moon, O disciples, illumines the world and cannot be hidden; the sun, O disciples, illumines the world and cannot be hidden; and the truth proclaimed by the Tathagata illumines the world and cannot be hidden. These three things, O disciples, illumine the world and cannot be hidden. There is no secrecy about them."
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THE LIE WON’T STAND
Bush Administration Explanations for Pre-9-11 Warnings Fail the Smell Test
Warnings Received From Heads of State, Allied Intelligence Services Specifically Warned of Attacks by Hijackers
Insider Trading Also Clearly Warned of Attacks
by Michael C. Ruppert
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Women and Scriptures
The following selection of verses are from Laksmi Tantra, Chapter 43, on the subject of women and their status in the Pancaratra tradition.
<center>
</center>na samret kamini nindam karmana manasa gira yatraham tatra tattvani tatraham tatra devatah (62)
A yogin should never abuse a woman, either in deed, speech or thought. Wherever I (Lakshmi) am, the realities are where ever I am the gods too are.
yo bhinindati tam narim laksmima bhinindati yo bhinindati tam laksmi trailokyama bhinindati (64)
He who abuses women abuses Laksmi herself; He who abuses Laksmi abuses the entire three worlds.
jyotsnam iva striyam drstva yasya cittam prasidati napadhyayati yatkincit sa me priyatmano matah (66)
He whose heart is gladdened by the sight of women, like moonlight, and who never entertains evil thoughts about them, he is most dear to Me.
aruna hyapaga yadvattatha simantini vara yadasmi janani nama trayanam jagatamaham (69)
As also the Aruna river, so too are all women revered as being sinless.
mattanurvanita saksad yogi kasmanna pujayet na kuryad vrjinam naryah kuvrttam na smaret striyah (71)
Knowing women as my direct manifestation, how can a yogi refrain from revering them? Women should always be worshipped and treated with affection.
<center>
</center>The Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva, Section XLVI Bhishma said:
"Respect, kind treatment and everything else that is agreeable, should all be given unto the maiden whose hand is taken in marriage. Her sire and brothers and father-in law and husband's brothers should show her every respect and adorn her with ornaments. If they be desirous of reaping benefits, for such conduct on their part always leads to considerable happiness and advantage.
"Women should always be worshipped and treated with affection. There where women are treated with respect, the very deities are said to be filled with joy. There where women are not worshipped, all acts become fruitless. If the women of a family, in consequence of the treatment they receive, grieve and shed tears, that family soon becomes extinct. Those houses that are cursed by women meet with destruction and ruin as if scorched by some Atharvan rite. Such houses lose their splendor. Their growth and prosperity cease. Women are disposed to accept the love that is offered to them, and devoted to truth. Women deserve to be honored.
"Do ye men show them honor. The righteousness of men depends upon women. All pleasures and enjoyments also completely depend upon them. Do ye serve them and worship them. Do ye bend your wills before them. The begetting of offspring, the nursing of children already born, and the accomplishment of all acts necessary for the needs of society, behold, all these have women for their cause.
<center>
</center>"By honoring women, ye are sure to attain to the fruition of all objects. Deities of prosperity are women. The persons that desire prosperity should honor them. By cherishing women, one cherishes the goddess of prosperity herself, and by afflicting her, one is said to afflict the goddess of prosperity."<small><font color="cfcfcf">
[This message has been edited by sha (edited 07-06-2002).]
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AMERICAN JIHAD:
Tue Jul 2, 9:02 PM ET
By Ted Rall
The Triumph of American Theocracy
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA-When someone tells you they're fighting for
freedom of religion, there's a good chance they're really fighting
for their freedom to make you follow their religion.
Muslims, repeatedly accused of religious intolerance by American
Christians since The Thing That Happened Last Fall, divined the
intent behind Bush's statement, never retracted, that the United
States' drive to topple the governments of Afghanistan ( news - web
sites) and Iraq was a righteous "crusade." Indeed, the
administration's "war on terror" has since involved a medieval-
flavored assault on Islamic countries and groups. This holy war
includes a military invasion-more than 100,000 U.S. troops have been
stationed at new permanent bases in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan and Afghanistan-all Muslim countries. And in on the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Bush sided decisively withon Israel's
vile Ariel Sharon ( news - web sites) by calling for Yassir Arafat's
ouster.
Anyone who hates Arabs is an ally when you're waging redneck jihad.
Post 9-11 the Bushies rightly decried Taliban fanaticism (after
sucking up to them, after funding them), but Mullah Omar looks nearly
enlightened in light of the recent paroxysm of Bible-thumping among
American leaders.
The United States is substantially more religiously diverse than
Afghanistan, not that you could tell by watching Bush, his Cabinet,
the Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court ( news - web sites).
First came a U.S. 9th circuit Court of Appeals ruling on June 26th,
overturning a California law that requires public schools to lead
students in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance-which includes
the phrase "one nation, under God." This law is plainly inappropriate
in a country that prides itself on free speech and free will. Forcing
anyone to say anything, much less making children pledge loyalty,
would be far more appropriate under a totalitarian dictatorship. This
is America. My right to say my country sucks when I think it does is
what truly makes America great.
"Under God" was only inserted into the Pledge in 1954, at the height
of McCarthyism. In a vote straight out of Politburo democracy,
Congress passed the amendment unanimously, without debate, after a
campaign by the right-wing Knights of Columbus.
It's self-evident that a state-led pledge instituted at the behest of
a Christian organization to acknowledge the existence of God violates
the Constitution's First Amendment ban against the state sanctioning
religion. "The recitation that ours is a nation `under God' is not a
mere acknowledgement that many Americans believe in a deity,"
correctly wrote Judge Alfred T. Goodwin. "Nor is it merely
descriptive of the undeniable historical significance of religion in
the founding of the republic. Rather, the phrase `one nation under
God' in the context of the pledge is normative."
A Judeo-Christian God isn't "normative" in a country that's home to
millions of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and atheists. Our remarkable
diversity precludes identifying any particular belief as the norm.
But many so-called Christians obviously don't trust God to understand
this, and feel compelled to shove Him down nonbelievers' throats in a
most un-Christian manner. Those who consider God too wimpy to win His
own converts include the members of Congress who passed resolutions
condemning Judge Goodwin for respecting the Constitution they swore
to uphold. Bush's press secretary, Ari Fleischer ( news - web sites),
issued a tacit presidential invitation to California schoolchildren
to disobey the court's ruling. And Attorney General John Ashcroft (
news - web sites) teamed up with California governor Gray Davis to
help the school system appeal.
Democrats Robert Byrd and Tom Daschle joined a chorus of aggro-
Christians who are hell-bent on forcing the daughter of an atheist to
say she believes in "God" whether she does or not, goddammit. Byrd
called the court "stupid.Just nuts," Daschle added. Some are
worried that other church-state linejumpers-the "In God We Trust"
motto on our currency, requiring officials and court witnesses to
swear on a King James Bible, politicians saying "God bless America"
after speaking-may be threatened by the "one nation under God"
decision.
We should be so lucky.
Bowing to a wave of distinctly un-Christian death threats, Goodwin
issued a 60-day stay of his own ruling. Experts expect the right-wing
Renhquist court to reverse the 9th circuit's decision-and the
Supremes gave them plenty of reason for this belief on June 27th.
That's when the same 5-4 majority that gave us the Bush interregnum
endorsed Cleveland's patently unconstitutional school voucher
program.
It's pretty hard to separate church and state when state is funding
church, but that's what happens in Cleveland's voucher system: 96.6
percent of taxpayer money originally collected for public schools
goes directly to religious schools. But America's Christian jihadis
are willing to trash the First Amendment-the very protection that
allows them to worship freely-because controlling young minds means
owning the future.
Islamic extremists learned this back in the `80s when guys like Osama
bin Laden ( news - web sites) laid out millions of dollars to found
madrassas throughout war-torn areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Those religious schools were often the only place a young boy could
go for shelter and food; as young men they emerged from years of
indoctrination as hardened jihadis ready to die for Allah. These are
the fanatics now out to destroy the United States and other Western
nations. To be fair, however, there is a huge difference between
those extremist Islamic nations and our own American theocracy.
In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the government would never ask taxpayers
to pay for religious schools.
(Ted Rall's new book, a graphic travelogue about his recent coverage
of the Afghan war titled "To Afghanistan and Back," is out now.
Ordering and review-copy information are available at nbmpub.com.)
http://story.news./news?tmpl=story&u=/020703/7/1seou.html
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Love will arise in your heart
when you have no barrier between yourself and another,
when you meet and observe people without judging them,
when you just see the sailboat on the river and enjoy the beauty of
it.
~ Krishnamurti
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Originally posted by sha:
<font color="red">bhagavad bhakti hInasya jAtiH zAstraM japas tapaH
aprANasya iva dehasya maNDanaM loka raJjanaM</font>
(Hari Bhakti Sudhodayam 3.11)
<font color="red">bhagavad bhakti hInasya jAtiH zAstraM japas tapaH
aprANasya iva dehasya maNDanaM loka raJjanaM</font>
(Hari Bhakti Sudhodayam 3.11)
C. C. 2. 19. 75- Caitanya Mahaprabhu said:
"<font color="blue">For a person<big> devoid of Bhakti</big> (Divine Love), birth in a high CASTE family, knowledge of many scriptures, performance of austerities (VAD) and penance, and vocal repeat of mantras are like<big> ornaments on a dead body</big>.
Such ornaments simply serve the mundane pleasures of the general populace."</font><small><font color="cfcfcf">
[This message has been edited by sha (edited 06-30-2002).]
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<font color="red">vasudeva sutaM devaM kamsa cANUra mardanamOne of the points that was brought up about VAD is that it is just adding another layer of false material identification that will just interfere with the development of one's bhakti.
devakI paramAnandaM kRSNaM vande jagad guruM
</font>I humbly prostrate to the Spiritual Master of the universe,
Lord Krishna, Who is the darling Son of King Vasudeva,
Who destroyed the evil Kamsa and Canura demons, and
Who is the Supreme Joy of Mother Devaki devi.
The world Teacher, Lord Krishna was instructing the seekers in the verse- 18.66 of Gita, "give up all dharmas (Varna Ashrama Dharma)"
and embrace "bhagavata dharma" - i.e. "mAm ekam zaraNam vraja" (EXCLUSIVE SURRENDER to Lord Himself) which is Prema Bhakti, Selfless Divine Love.
After Gita ends giving the final verdict, Bhagavatam (Parama hamsyaam
Samhitaayaam) begins. The first verses of Srimad Bhagavatam (Parama
hamsyaam Samhitaayaam) proclaim:
dharmaH projjhita kaitavo 'tra paramo... and goes beyond the Dharma (VAD) and liberation mentioned in the verse 18. 66. of Gita.
<font color="blue">tyaktvA svadharma caraNAmbujaM harer
bhajan napakvo 'tha patet tato yadi
yatra kva vAbhadram abhUdamuSya kiM ko
vArtha Apto 'bhajatAM svadharmataH</font>
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1. 5. 17)
Has evil ever befallen him anywhere in any womb or birth, who adores the lotus feet of Sri Hari neglecting his own 'dharma' (religious order and social duty), even if he dies at a stage when he is yet unripe in his devotion, or falls from his 'sadhana' (preparation)?
On the other hand, what purpose has been achieved by those who fail to worship God, through devotion to their socalled own 'dharma' (VAD)?
<font color="red">sa vai puMsAM paro dharmotato bhaktir adhokSaje
ahaituky apratihatA yayA' 'tmA samprasIdati
dharmA svanuSThitaH puMsAM viSvaksena kathAsu yaH
notpAdayed yadi ratiM zrama eva hi kevalam</font>
(Bhagavatam 1. 2. 6, 8)
That alone is the highest Dharma of men, from which follows devotion to Sri Krishna,- a devotion which is absolutely motiveless and knows no obstruction, and as a result of which the soul realizes the All Blissful God and thus attains His Grace.
A Dharma well performed is but labour lost, if it<u> fails to generate Love</u> for the stories of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.
<font color="blue">AJjAya ivaM guNAn doSAn mayA ' 'diSTAnapi svakAn
dharmAn saMtyajyaH sarvAn mAM bhajet sa ca sattamaH
dharmaH satya dayopeto vidyA vA tapasAnvitA
madbhaktyApetam AtmAnaM na samyak prapunAti hi</font>
(Bhagavatam 11. 11. 32 and 11. 14. 22)
He who knowing the merits and demerits of VAD - (religious duty and its opposite) gives up ALL Dharma even as sanctioned by Me,
and WORSHIPS Me in Love, is the BEST among sages.
Dharma (VAD) joined to truthfulness and compassion or learning coupled with
austerity, never WHOLLY purifies the heart and mind which is DEVOID of Devotion to Me (Lord Krishna).
<font color="red">mannimittaM kRtaM pApaM maddharmAya ca kalpate
mAmanAdRtya dharmo 'pi pApaM syAn matprabhAvataH</font>
In Padma Purana Lord says-
The SIN that is performed for MY sake is NOT sin, it is 'Dharma'. But the 'Dharma' that is PERFORMED without surrendering to Me is sin.
That is why Saint Sri Tulasidasji said -
<font color="blue">'tajyo pitA prahlAda vibhISaNa bandhu bharata mahatArI
bali guru tajyo kAnta brajavantani bhe saba mangala kArI</font>
Prahlada Maharaj left his father,
prince Bharata gave up his mother,
Vibhishana escaped from his brother, Ravana,
Bali Maharaj ignored his guru and
Gopis renounced their own husbands and family.
All these Saints had become great due to their EXCLUSIVE LOVING SURRENDER to their Lord but not through VAD.
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I do not have the exact number and the Sanskrit text but it is a well known fact and can be found in many English translations of Mahabharata including the one by Dr. Kamala Subramaniam.
That was the reason for Queen Kunti devi's invoking the gods of heaven to impregnate her with their divine power to continue the Kuru dynasty. Thus the Pandu sons were born to Kunti devi: Yudhishtara - by Lord Yama, Bhima- by Wind god, Arjuna- by King Indra of heaven.
And the twins, Nakula & Sahadeva- by Ashvini devatas, were born to Madri.
Due to the 5 boons received by Kuntidevi, the Kuru dynasty was saved. The first one was used to invoke sun god and Karna was born before her wedding, whom she disowned.
At the time of funeral, only queen Maadri accompanied her husband in 'sati' as she was the cause for the downfall and death of her husband, Pandu who was cursed not to engage in sexual intercourse with his wives.
Queen Kunti had to continue on with her life for the welfare of the five young sons (3 of her own and two of Madri's) until they were ready to rule the kingdom.<small><font color="cfcfcf">
[This message has been edited by sha (edited 06-29-2002).]
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Originally posted by raga:
Certainly the ontological position of a genuine Vaishnava is far superior to that of a brahmana. We may glorify a saintly devotee as a foremost brahmana, and a deva among mankind.
Nevertheless, it does not mean that such a devotee desires to become a brahmana any more than he desires to become a deva, such as Indra, Candra or Brahma. In fact, adopting artificial designations is a mere impediment on his path of devotion. Sri Caitanya prayed:<blockquote><font color=blue>
<center>nAhaM vipro na ca nara-patir nApi vaizyo na zUdro
nAhaM varNI na ca gRha-patir no vana-stho yatir vA
kintu prodyan nikhila-paramAnanda-pUrNAmRtAbdher
gopI-bhartuH pada-kamalayor dAsa-dAsAnudAsaH
(PadyAvalI 63)</center>
“I am not a brahmana, a ksatriya or a vaisya, nor am I a sudra. I am not among the varnas, not a grihastha, not a vanaprastha nor a sannyasi either. But I am the servant of the servants of the lotus feet of Him who is the Lord of the cowherd maidens, and a paramount nectarine ocean of brilliant universal bliss!”
<font color="red">"Let me (if need be) be born as man or celestial, as wild beast or mosquito, as animal or worm, as bird or any other creature.
What harm can accrue from these embodiments,
if in every such birth my heart always feels inclined to disport in the waves of Supreme Bliss consisting in the REMEMBRANCE of Thy lotus feet ?"</font>
<font color="blue">"O Lord! What does it avail a man to be a student brahmacari, a householder, an anchorite, a mendicant or one outside these four orders?
O Master of all beings!
Bestower of all good!
He whose heart-lotus comes in Thy possession -
to him Thou becomest his 'Own', and Thyself bearest his worldly burdens."</font>
(Sivanandalahari. 10, 11- Jagadguru Sri Sankaracarya)
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Originally posted by raga:
Certainly the ontological position of a genuine Vaishnava is far superior to that of a brahmana. We may glorify a saintly devotee as a foremost brahmana, and a deva among mankind.
Nevertheless, it does not mean that such a devotee desires to become a brahmana any more than he desires to become a deva, such as Indra, Candra or Brahma. In fact, adopting artificial designations is a mere impediment on his path of devotion. Sri Caitanya prayed:<blockquote><font color=blue>
<center>nAhaM vipro na ca nara-patir nApi vaizyo na zUdro
nAhaM varNI na ca gRha-patir no vana-stho yatir vA
kintu prodyan nikhila-paramAnanda-pUrNAmRtAbdher
gopI-bhartuH pada-kamalayor dAsa-dAsAnudAsaH
(PadyAvalI 63)</center>
“I am not a brahmana, a ksatriya or a vaisya, nor am I a sudra. I am not among the varnas, not a grihastha, not a vanaprastha nor a sannyasi either. But I am the servant of the servants of the lotus feet of Him who is the Lord of the cowherd maidens, and a paramount nectarine ocean of brilliant universal bliss!”
<font color="red">bhagavad bhakti hInasya jAtiH zAstraM japas tapaH
aprANasya iva dehasya maNDanaM loka ranjanaM</font>
(Hari Bhakti Sudhodayam 3.11)
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In Hari Bhakti Vilasa, verse 2.147, Srila Sanatana Goswami quotes Sammohana-tantra:
<font color="red">gopayed devatam istam gopayed gurum atmanah
gopayed ca nijam mantram gopayen nija-malikam</font>
<font color="blue">“One should hide one’s ishta-deva, one should hide one’s guru, one should hide one’s mantra, and one should hide one’s japa-mala.”
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Here is an excerpt from the article written by Sri R.K.Tripathi,
published in the English and Hindi translation of Sri Tulasdasa's 'Sri Rama Carita Manasa' by Professor R. C. Prasad.
<font color="blue">" So far as the poet (Saint Tulasi dasa) himself is concerned, he seems to consider 'nama-japa', i.e. repetition of name, to be the BEST means of Bhakti.
He has devoted many pages in Balakanda to explain the importance of Nama - Name, especially of the name of Rama.
Firstly because the name and the named are one, secondly because it is the name which makes the named intelligible and is, therefore, even superior to 'Rupa' - Form.
<big>The Name is superior even to Rama. It is the mediator between the abstract Absolute and the Personified Absolute.</big></font>
Through 'Nama-japa' Hanuman was able to have a control over Rama.
<font color="red">In the Kaliyuga especially, 'Nama-Sankirtana' is most effective.
The name of Rama is effective whether it is uttered with love or with spite,
in anger or even in moments of boredom and laziness.
The importance of 'name' is so great that even Rama CANNOT describe it FULLY!</font>
When the climax of Bhakti is reached, the devotee leaves every thing to God, does not ask for any thing and accepts only that which the Lord considers best for him.
When the Lord is pleased to appear before the devotee, He offers to grant him whatever he wants and does not impose His will on him.
This is because He wants that the devotee should first be free from all desires and then be granted Bhakti.
<font color="blue">When the Bhakta has NO personal desires, he begs ONLY Bhakti of the Lord."</font>
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Originally posted by theist:
Two great posts.Thank you for your answers.
Sha, I am wondering about the very first quote that is attributed to Jesus.It has Jesus saying that one will rule over the All.
I just don't hear His voice in that staement.
Of course that may just mean that I'm still deaf.
Where is that statement from please?
Check out the link I posted above and also
http://www.san.beck.org/GoodMessage/Gospels-Index.html
It is given under 'Thomas 2'.
These are the secret words which the living Jesus spoke,
and which Didymos Thomas wrote.
You may also get a thorough explanation from Bible scholors and monks as the quote does seem to have a deeper spiritual meaning.
Another quote from:
Thomas 3
Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you,
'Look, the sovereignty is in heaven,"
then the birds of heaven will precede you.
If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,'
then the fish will precede you.
But the sovereignty is within you and outside you.
"When you know yourselves, then you will be known
and you will know that you are the sons of the living Father.
But if you do not know yourselves,
then you are in poverty and you are poverty."
Thomas 5
Jesus said, "Know what is before your face,
and what is hidden from you will be revealed to you.
For there is nothing hidden which will not be manifest."
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Originally posted by popkern:
theist,
Haribol! that's an interesting point, i remember a verse in the gospel where a person asked Jesus how will he be able to know if Jesus is really the messiah, Jesus replied that if a person is doing his Father's will, that person will recognize that he is the one who is sent by God.
The Lord in the heart knows our desires, if we are sincere and serious in our spiritual life, Krishna will arrange our situation in such a way that we will have the opportunity of meeting His bonafide representative, in the same way if we want to seek mediocre gurus, Krishna will also make arrangements to meet bogus gurus, man proposes God disposes as the saying goes.
In the Bhagavad Gita 4.11 Krishna told Arjuna: "As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Prtha."
Namaste.
<font color="blue">Jesus said, "Let one who searches,
not cease searching until one finds;
and when one finds, one will be troubled,
and when one has been troubled, one will marvel,
and one will reign over the All."</font>
Thomas 2
"Ask, and it will be given to you;
search, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone asking receives,
and the one searching finds,
and to the one knocking it will be opened.
"Or what person is there among you,
if his son asks him for bread, would give him a stone?
or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake?
If, then, you who are bad
know to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven
give good things to those who ask him.
"Thus everything which you wish
that people should do to you,
you should do so to them also;
for this is the law and the prophets.
"Enter through the narrow gate;
for wide is the gate and broad the road
that leads away into destruction,
and there are many entering through it;
but narrow is the gate and hard the road
that leads away into life,
and there are few finding it.
<font color="red">"Watch out for false prophets,
who come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inside are ravenous wolves.
From their fruit you will recognize them.
Does anyone pick grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?
"Thus every good tree produces beautiful fruit,
but the rotten tree produces bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a rotten tree bear beautiful fruit.
Every tree not producing beautiful fruit
is cut down and thrown into fire.
So from their fruit you will recognize them.</font>
"Not everyone saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter into the sovereignty of heaven,
but the one doing the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day: 'Lord, Lord,
did we not prophesy in your name,
and in your name expel demons,
and in your name perform many powerful things?'
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you;
depart from me workers of lawlessness.'
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and practices them,
will be like a sensible man,
who built his house on the rock.
And everyone hearing these words of mine
and not practicing them
will be like a foolish man,
who built his house on the sand.
And the rain came down and the rivers came
and the winds blew and pounded against that house,
and it fell, and its fall was great."
Matthew 7:7-27
<font color="blue">"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you;
search, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone asking receives, and whoever searches finds,
and to the one knocking it will be opened.
"What father among you whose son asks for a fish,
would instead of a fish give him a snake?
or if he asks for an egg, would give him a scorpion?
Therefore if you being bad
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."</font>
Luke 11:9-13
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Here are more excerpts from another board for better understanding :
Scriptural sanction is there for allowing shudras to study the vedas and uplift themselves.
"yathemaam vaacham kalyaaniimaavadaani janebhyah.
brahmaraajanyabhyaam shudraaya chaaryaaya cha svaaya charanaaya"
"So may I speak these blessed words (the holy veda) to all the people, to the brahman and the kshatriya, the shudra and the vaishya, to those very dear to me and those not so close."
- yajur veda 16.2
thus no man can be denied the right to rise in learning and righteousness as god almighty has commanded.
Here's another commandment God has given that many may not have seen before -
"ajyesthaaso akanisthaasa ete sam bhraataro vaavrdhuh saubhagaaya,"
"In mankind no one is superior or inferior. Society evolves when all strive together like brothers for glory and prowess."
(rigved 5.60.5)
"na vishesho'sti varnaanaam... karmabhir varnataam gatam "
"There is no difference of classes... men became seperated into classes in consequence of their actions (or works)."
- mahabharata, shantiparvan 6935
Brahmin in the vedas is defined as
'brahma jaanaati iti brahmanah',
the one who has knowledge of god and ved is called as brahmin.
learning and virtue make one brahmin, and thus makes one the most eligible for marriage. if by birth one was proclaimed that one is brahmin, no doubt it would be most unjust, but where does ved say that birth makes a brahmin?
for example, the aitareya brahmana tells of the great rishi or seer of the veda, kavash ailush, who was born in a shudra family, and the mahabharata records the story of the chandala (outcaste), matanga who became recognised as a rishi.
in the veda there is a description of a family in which members followed various occupations -
"karuraham tato bhishag upala-prakshini nanaa, naanaadhiyo vasuyavo'nu gaa iva tasthimendraayendo pari srava "
(rig 9.112.3)
- i am a poet (or carpenter), my father a physician, my mother a grinder of corn. striving for wealth, following various occupations and plans, we remain (in the family) like cattle in a common stall etc.
The fact is the vedas contradict the entire concept of social inequality -
'ajyesthaaso akanisthaasa' -
"in mankind no one is superior or inferior" (rigved 5.60.5).
naanaanaam vai u no dhiyo vi vrataani janaanaam I
takshaa rishtam rutam bhishag brahmaa sunvantam ichati I
"Various are our thoughts and endeavours, diverse are the ways of different men.
The carpenter seeks the broken, the physician seeks a patient, and the priest the worshipper."
-- rigveda 9.112.1
yatraa nah puurve pitarah pareyur ena jajnaanah pathyaa anu svaah I
"All men, born on this earth, tread their own paths which they have made for themselves, leading them whither our ancient fathers have departed."
-- rigveda 10.14.2
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The form of God according to Quran
in Spiritual Discussions
Posted · Report reply
Peace be with you.
Some letter's & words... {Qur'anic Wisdom }
The Most Selfish One-Letter Word "I" Avoid It
(Surah Al Kahf 18:34)
The Most Satisfying Two-Letter Word "WE" Use It
Surah Al An'am 6:71-72
The Most Poisonous Three-Letter Word "EGO" Kill It
Surah Al Qasas 28:78
The Most Used Four-Letter Word "LOVE" Value It
(Surah Al Rum 30:21)
The Most Pleasing Five Letter Word "SMILE" Keep It
(Surah Al Najm 53:43)
The Fastest Spreading Six-Letter Word "RUMOUR" Ignore It
(Surah Al Hujurat 49:12)
The Hardest Working Seven Letter Word "SUCCESS" Achieve It
(Surah Al Nur 24:37-38)
The Most Enviable Eight-Letter Word "JEALOUSY" Distance It
(Surah Yusuf 12:8-9)
The Most Powerful Nine-Letter Word "KNOWLEDGE" Acquire It
(of Allah & the Holy Qu'ran) Surah Ya Sin 36:2 Surah Yusuf 12:2
The Most Essential Ten-Letter Word "CONFIDENCE" Trust It
(Trust in Allah's Guidance) Surah Yunus 10: 9 Surah Al Tawbah 9:51
source:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/islamispeace/messages?msg=216.1
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